The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has appointed Dionne Hayden as its new chairperson to succeed Charles Schmadeke.
Hayden has served as an IGB member since May 2019 and becomes the first woman and first African American woman to be appointed to the position.
She was appointed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker following the July resignation of Schmadeke, who had served as chairman since July 2019.
Hayden is a corporate attorney with more than 20 years of experience with corporate investigations, compliance and strategic risk mitigation, and currently serves as vice president of employee relations at Chicago-based CNA Financial.
Her appointment remains subject to confirmation by the Illinois Senate.
“On behalf of myself, the Board and IGB staff, I thank Board Member Hayden for her dedicated service for the last six years and welcome her to her new role as Gaming Board Chairperson,” said IGB administrator Marcus Fruchter. “She has always proven to be a thoughtful, prepared, engaged, and principled colleague. Chairperson Hayden consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to the rule of law and public service, adherence to the highest standards of integrity and ethics, and support for IGB staff.”
Commenting on her appointment, Hayden said: “I am enthusiastic about continuing to serve the citizens of Illinois in this new capacity and am committed to upholding the values and mission of the Gaming Board during my tenure.”
In related news, the latest meeting of the IGB saw the regulator approve a gaming licence for the state’s first racino, Fairmount Park Casino and Racing, which was recently acquired by Accel Entertainment.
Fairmount Park is the seventh casino to be authorized since November 2021 and the state’s 17th casino. The Collinsville-based venue began casino operations in April.